Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Thunder lose fifth straight road game to the Pelicans

By Lawrence George

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Russell Westbrook
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Russell Westbrook /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 31: Billy Donovan of the OKC Thunder looks on in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on October 31, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 31: Billy Donovan of the OKC Thunder looks on in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on October 31, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Another game, another blown lead. Oklahoma City continues to struggle in crunch time as a Boogie-less Pelicans overcame the OKC Thunder 107-114.

The offense is awful. The day and night style of the Oklahoma City Thunder is frustrating to watch. In almost every single game, the Thunder have great player and ball movement in the first quarter. Then for some reason, OKC experiences a 36 mental lapse and passing stops.

In my years of watching the NBA, I have never seen a team blow double digit leads like the Thunder continue to do. Unless something changes, fans will start looking for someone to blame. Pressure is mounting on head coach Billy Donovan.

As per usual, the Thunder started off on fire and built a 19-point lead midway into the first quarter. Then the second unit arrived and it all went downhill from there. The Pelicans bench pounded OKC when the starters sat. A host of missed shots and terrible defense allowed New Orleans to build momentum. Oklahoma City lead by 8 at the break.

Coming out of half time, the Thunder and Pelicans matched baskets before the Pels pulled ahead by 3. With around 6 minutes remaining in the 3rd, center Demarcus Cousins was handed a Flagrant 2 after an elbow to Russell Westbrook’s chops. With Cousins tossed, OKC fans would have been smiling. Sadly, that wasn’t the case and New Orleans closed the 3rd leading 87-86.

Heading into the fourth, it was suppose to be OK3 time. Instead, it was Anthony Davis who rose to the occasion. Shot after shot, free throw after free throw, Davis completely outgunned the OK3. Isolation plays and lack of ball movement continue to hurt OKC in the clutch.

A tough fade away from Davis on the back of a broken play essentially broke the Thunder’s back. Additionally, New Orleans showed Oklahoma City what they have lacked all season long – heart. The OKC Thunder lost their 5th straight on the road to a Boogie-less Pelicans.

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